August 1st, 2003 The Abaconian Page 1 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 15, AUGUST 1ST, 2003 Bahamasair May Quit Treasure Cay Officials Held Town Meeting to Discuss Changes The Hon. Bradley Roberts, Minister of Public Works, spoke at a town meeting in North Abaco to discuss proposed changes in Bahamasair’s service to Treasure Cay. The corporation is considering contracting the route between Nassau and Treasure Cay to a private charter company. About 65 people attended the meeting on July 17, making an emotional appeal to the officials from Nassau to reconsider the pro- posal. Airlines over the world are having prob- lems and are having to cut routes and make other changes to reduce their losses. All had to get union concessions, have laid off work- ers and closed stations. Bahamasair is no exception. Although it is an emotional topic, the Board of Directors feels it is necessary to contract out the routes that are not profit- able. It was explained that in many other areas of the world it is common to arrive at a central airport but then passengers take a smaller airplane to their final destination. Hawaii and Puerto Rico were given as ex- amples of this system. Mr. Paul Major, Managing Director of Bahamasair, explained that the plan to con- tract out flights to several destinations to private charter companies is part of the government’s campaign to reduce costs. The national carrier lost $25 million last year The Hon. Bradley Roberts, Minister of Public Works, led the delegation to hold a town meeting in Treasure Cay to discuss their and $22 million this year. Although the gov- proposal to contract out the Treasure Cay/Nassau route to a private charter company. Shown above are, seated left to right, Mr. Basil ernment is subsidizing the airline with $10 Sands, Chairman of the Board of Bahamasair, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Paul Major, Managing Director of Bahamasair, and standing, left to million, that is only half of what it needs to right, Mr. Gary Knowles, Adminstrator for North Abaco, Mr. Eric Collie with local government, and Mr. Steve Pedican, Chief Councillor for the North Abaco District Council. Please see Bahamasair Page 2 Two Die After Plane Crash On July 13 an Air Sunshine charter plane the pilot of the plane, Hassan Moslemi, is Police Find Marijuana Growing crashed about six ands half miles southwest credited for keeping the nose up when the of the Treasure Cay airport, the plane’s des- plane landed in the water, thus preventing tination. Aboard the ten-seat twin-engine loss of life. Cessna 402 plane were nine passengers and the pilot. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Please see Crash Page 2 Flag Raising Marks Independence Sixty-four marijuana plants were uprooted by police on July 21 after they were tipped off that they were growing there. They were scattered in the pinewoods just off South Side Road near the south side dock. See story on page 33. Renew your subscription before the expiration date shown in the label below. The Abaconian PRST STD 9945 NW 88th Ave US POSTAGE Medley, FL 33178 Independence was celebrated throughout Abaco with each town planning its own events. PAID Forward and Address Correction Permit #2438 On July 9 Abaco people came together to an island-wide flag raising held at the Central MIAMI FL 331 Abaco Primary School. It was preceded by a church service. Shown above are some in attendance. They are, left to right, Mr. Everette Archer, the Hon. Fred Mitchell, Minis- ter of Foreign Affairs, Sen. Edison Key, Mr. William Swain and Mr. Robert Sweeting, MP for South Abaco. Page 2 The Abaconian August 1st, 2003 Residents Want Bahamasair Service unprofitable routes. The others are Andros to a great extent by the fact that the Trea- vations. The cost of travel on a charter air- Bahamasair From Page 1 Town, Mangrove Town and San Andros, all sure Cay flights are combined with the Marsh craft would most likely be cheaper. keep operating. The corporation must reduce on Andros, North Eleuthera and Arthur’s Harbour flights. Another considerable cost Bahamasair would request that the staff now costs and find ways to make up the other $10 Town on Cat Island. The Bahamasair offi- is keeping two stations open on one island. employed with Bahamasair be considered for million. cials estimate the these routes are costing Mr. Basil Sands, Chairman of the Board employment with the charter company. If that Bahamasair has only seven aircraft. The $4.2 million annually. The government is of Directors of Bahamasair, brought out the was not possible, they would try to absorb plane that is used domestically is a 50-seat proposing putting these routes out for tender. fact that in three years Bahamasair lost $87 the staff elsewhere. The Ministry of Trans- plane. It is not economical to use that size At least three charter companies would be million. The airline is celebrating 30 years port would require that the charter company aircraft for routes that do not fill the plane. considered, Western Air, Southern Air and and has lost money for 30 years, a total of have adequate insurance and maintenance. The Treasure Cay airport averages only 14 Caribbean Air. They all have 10- to 15-seat $340 million. At the present time, the Bahamasair planes passengers per flight, which is less than 30 airplanes which would accommodate the pas- The charter company which won the con- combines the two flights to Abaco, Marsh percent of the plane’s capacity. For effi- senger load for Treasure Cay. Those who tract would have the advantage of accessing Harbour and Treasure Cay. However, the ciency Bahamasair is wanting to have only wanted to fly in a larger plane could still go the Bahamasair reservation service. This flight between the two airports is only 10 one aircraft type. This cuts expenses greatly to Marsh Harbour to fly on Bahamasair. The Saber system, which cost $13.1 million over minutes. Servicing of the planes depends on in pilots, parts and servicing. costs of going into Treasure Cay are $300 10 years, is an up-to-date reservation system the number of landings and take-offs. Land- Treasure Cay is one of seven extremely per rotation, landing and take-off. However, available anywhere in the world. Bahamasair ing twice on Abaco is costly, as a full main- the actual cost is much higher but is absorbed would still be involved but only with reser- tenance check costs between $600,000 and $1 million. Marsh Harbour is the second best per- Drowning Claims Two Lives After Crash former in the entire Bahamas after Freeport and the officials are considering increasing morial Hospital. They have fully recovered. were the daughter and granddaughter of the flights to three daily. Crash From Page 1 Sergeant James Moss, A/C in charge of Oswald Parker, businessman in Treasure Cay Mr. Eugene Butler, flight inspector rep- Little Abaco and one of the officers who re- and Corporal in the Police Reserves. resenting the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Two persons perished after the plane sponded to the call, provided this account of “The crash is being investigated by the Min. of Transport, assured the group that crashed. Diane Parker–Diaz, 33. daughter the police involvement in the incident. “About NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) safety is paramount. Bahamasair has an ex- of Treasure Cay businessman and Police 3 p.m. on Sunday a plane crashed in the area and the Department of Civil Aviation to de- cellent record and they intend to keep it that Reservist Oswald Parker, and her three-year- of Cave Cay. The coordinates were given termine the cause of the crash. way. The Department of Civil Aviation will old niece Diante Parker. Mrs. Parker-Diaz and the location ended up in the area of “The funeral of the woman was in the still have the responsibility to maintain the was dead when the Coast Guard arrived on Cooper’s Town. The police responded and United States.” safety. In 2000 the country was deficient in the scene about an hour after the plane was two boats were dispatched to the scene. On Diane Parker Diaz grew up on Abaco and continuous inspecting resulting in a down- ditched. It is believed that both drowned. arrival of the police and concerned citizens, moved to Florida about 15 years ago to live graded rating. Now a new section has been Surviving the crash were Mrs. Parker-Diaz’s they were joined by two U.S. Coast Guard with her husband Elio. She was returning to set up which provides continuous surveillance. two children, six-year-old Andre Parker-Diaz helicopters. When the boats arrived, there Treasure Cay for the wedding of her brother, Any charter which gets a contract must com- and five-year-old Elisa Parker Diaz. Also on was a Citation jet over the crash site. Some Ossie Parker, Jr. The funeral for Mrs. Parker- ply with all government requirements in fi- board were honeymooners from Greenville, victims were pulled from the water by the Diaz was on July 24 and burial was on July nancial stability, must be competent, expe- North Carolina, and a family from Orlando, Coast Guard officials. 25 in Miami Lakes, Florida. The funeral for rienced and with a good safety record. Florida with a one-year-old daughter. “The police officials recovered the body four-year-old Diante Parker was held on July It was mentioned that government is con- When the pilot radioed that he had lost an of a black female adult and juvenile who were 26 here in Abaco.